Eddie Jones set to quit Wallabies after World Cup disaster

There have been calls for heads to roll after news dropped Eddie Jones is set to quit the Wallabies after a humiliating World Cup campaign.

Eddie Jones has previously denied the claim. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Eddie Jones is reportedly set to quit the Wallabies.

The under-fire coach’s return to coach Australia has been an unmitigated disaster with the Wallabies being sent packing from the World Cup without progressing beyond the group stage for the first time.

A bombshell broke early in the Wallabies’ campaign that Jones had held a secret job interview with Japanese Rugby.

Rugby Australia stuck by Jones with chief executive Phil Waugh and chairman Hamish McLennan both saying publicly that Jones had their support despite the Wallabies campaign going off the rails on and off the field.

Waugh said there was “nothing in” the reports, while Jones said it was “bulls**t and gossip”.

Jones has suddenly made fools of everyone — including himself and McLennan.

McLennan told The Telegraph in the UK earlier this month: “We have asked him if he interviewed with Japan, and he has categorically denied it on a number of occasions, so we take him at his word”.

It has been widely reported in Japanese media that Jones is the leading contender to take up the position as head coach of the Brave Blossoms.

Eddie Jones speaks to the media in the post match press conference. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

News Corp on Thursday morning also reported Jones is viewed by Japanese officials as the top candidate for the job.

Reports claim the 63-year-old is set to agree to a standing offer from Japan and will soon inform Rugby Australia of his decision.

Jones was contracted with Rugby Australia through to the end of the 2027 World Cup.

Japanese sports website Sponichi first reported Jones had won the fight for the top job in Japanese Rugby.

Like the Wallabies, the Brave Blossoms were sent packing early at the 2023 World Cup before coach Jamie Joseph walked away from the role.

“Current Australian national team coach Eddie Jones is expected to return as the successor to Joseph,” the story read.

Eddie Jones took “umbrage to people questioning my commitment to the Australia job.” Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP

“This spring, Masato Tsuchida, president of the Japan Association, with whom he has had a honeymoon relationship since his days at Suntory, contacted him.

“Contract negotiations have been held privately behind the scenes, and preparations are underway for (his) return (for the first time) since the 2015 World Cup, which led them to a historic three wins.”

The knee-jerk reaction from some rugby commentators was scathing of Jones’ behaviour.

Leading sport journalist Daniel Garb wrote on Twitter: “The decision to axe Dave Rennie for him has to be the worst coaching call in Australian sport”.

So Eddie Jones soon to be confirmed as taking Japan deal. Contract said to have been done and dusted prior to the start of current World Cup where he Australia's head coach..

One can only hope he and Chairman at last seen for everything that has unfolded. What a disaster. #fwits

— ReadingThePlay (@ReadingThePlay) October 11, 2023

The gall of Jones telling journalists to give themselves uppercuts and insinuate they weren’t patriotic enough because they weren’t sufficiently delusional enough to believe his BS and then to turn around and quit on the team is quite staggering. #Wallabies#Rugby

— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) October 11, 2023

If you don’t know who this bloke is….his name is Hamish McLennan who described Eddie Jones as the greatest coach in rugby & that he would lead the Wallabies to World Cup glory.
He must stand down. pic.twitter.com/3Kj4aAzkmB

— The Oracle (@BigOtrivia) October 11, 2023

Jones has close ties to Japan, having previously coached the country from 2012 to 2015, leading them to an upset win over South Africa in the 2015 World Cup.

Rob Valetini consoles Nick Frost. Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Rob Valetini of Australia looks dejected. Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images.

He is married to a Japanese woman, and reportedly has a close relationship with Japan Rugby Football Union president Masato Tsuchida.

He has led multiple nations to the World Cup final – first with Australia in 2003, and then with England in 2019, on top of being an adviser with South Africa when the Springboks won the 2007 tournament.

Jones has now become a villain in Australian rugby — and was booed by a crowd at the Rugby World Cup when his face was shown on the big screen before a Wallabies game.

Under Jones, the Wallabies have won just two of nine matches, defeating Georgia and Portugal during the World Cup.

Since the first edition in 1987, Australian Rugby built a once-mighty reputation through World Cup triumphs in 1991 and 1999.

That reputation is now in tatters after a World Cup where the Aussies were comprehensively beaten by Wales and Fiji.

It was after the loss to Wales that Jones was first confronted about his link with Japanese Rugby.

When asked if he interviewed for the Japan coaching position, Jones said: “I don’t know what you are talking about mate.

“I take umbrage to people questioning my commitment to the Australia job.”

Eddie Jones as he left the tense press conference. Photo: Twitter, @RugbyPass.

Jones earlier said he was “100 per cent” committed to coaching Australia.

“I came back to Australia to try to help,” he said.

“At the moment I’m not giving much help, am I? But that doesn’t mean my commitment to helping has changed.

“I’m a proud Australian, and I hate to see Australian rugby do as poorly as we have been doing, particularly under my reign.

“It’s not just the Wallabies, we’ve got to improve the whole system of Australian rugby, and that’s not an excuse. But we’ve got to have a really good look at ourselves.”

Originally published as Eddie Jones set to quit Wallabies after World Cup disaster